Planning member warned about rundown property on Beach

Eron Ben-Yehuda

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- A planning commissioner, responsible for overseeing

property maintenance throughout the city, was warned this week about a

rundown piece of land he owns.

The city’s code enforcement cracked down this week on Bob Biddle’s

commercial property at the corner of Beach Boulevard and Liberty Avenue.

“Obviously, it’s subpar,” code enforcement officer Al Brady said.

Brady issued a warning to clean up rubbish that included a pile of rusted

aluminum siding and a discarded mattress found in the rear of the

property near some weeds, which also must be removed, he said.

There’s very little the city can do to force Biddle to fix other problems

with his land, senior planner Mike Strange said.

Many of the requirements Biddle regularly imposes on new developments

that come before the commission don’t apply to older properties such as

his, which is considered a “legal nonconforming use,” Strange said.

Unlike newer property owners, Biddle can’t be punished for not including

“green” landscaping such as trees, plants, bushes and grass. He also

doesn’t have to make room for cement sidewalks, so black asphalt --

cracked in places -- extends to the property’s edge.

And then there’s the garishly colored sign for one of his tenants,

Psychic Palm & Tarot Card Reader.

“There are a lot of things out there that are ugly,” Brady said. “I’m not

thrilled with the lavender sign, but that was approved for whatever

reason.”

Biddle said the leases his tenants signed require them to keep the

property maintained.

“Personally, I don’t want to deal with it anymore,” he said, adding that

he would like to sell the property, which has been in his family for

generations.

“I don’t want to be considered a slumlord,” he said.

Some of his colleagues on the Planning Commission expressed embarrassment

over the example set by Biddle.

“As a planning commissioner, I would want my property to be a showcase of

what needs to be done right,” Commissioner Tom Livengood said.

Commissioner Ed Laird said he would not feel comfortable forcing other

property owners to follow strict codes if he did not.

“I feel there’s a personal responsibility, but that’s my own makeup,” he

said.